A couple who were told they'd be housebound after getting two large dogs do road trips around Europe - so they can give their Dalmatians a holiday too.

Rhys Denham, 36, and partner Sophia Hutchinson, 34, bought pets Django and Amber, five years ago.

When the couple started planning their first trip post-Covid, they felt bad putting the two pups into a kennel.

Rhys and Sophia, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, then realised they could spend the same or less hiring a motorhome - and take their beloved pooches too.

They started with a UK trip - visiting the north of Scotland - in 2022.

After that was a success they realised they could even go abroad with the pups - without needing to put the dogs through a stressful flight in the cargo area of the plane.

Rhys, a senior account executive, and Sophia, a photographer, have since taken their four-legged companions to France, Switzerland and Italy.

And the couple estimate it costs them less to hire a motorhome and take the dogs than to fly, stay in a hotel and put the dogs in a kennel.

Sophia said: "People told us after getting our second dog that we'd be housebound."

"But we've been to lots of different countries - and the dogs have been able to enjoy them too."

"Now we plan our holidays around the dogs - they don't have to go to the kennels."

"We find it much more enjoyable having them with us."

Rhys said: "We got Django and Amber because we wanted companions for our adventures."

"What's the point of having dogs if you can't take them with you?"

After months of lockdown, Rhys and Sophia realised they didn't want to be without their dogs when they were planning their getaway.

They didn't like the idea of putting them into the kennels because the couple felt their pooches deserved a treat too.

They realised for the same price or less, they could rent a motorhome and take the dogs.

Rhys said: "The dogs are there for us during our nine-to-fives, sat at home with us while we're both working."

"So it is great to give them that break and fun when we have it too."

In 2022, they took their first motorhome trip to the Isles of Harris and Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

In 2023 they branched out further still, completing a two-week trip touring the scenic areas of Adelboden, Obsee and Furka Pass in Switzerland.

In the same trip they also stopped off at the Dolomites, Italy, and Provence in France.

In 2024, they returned to Switzerland as the dogs loved it as much as them - and stayed in Lauterbrunnen, Adelboden, Grindelwald, and Obsee.

As well as hiking and sightseeing they have even taken Django and Amber to do activities such as paddleboarding and riding in gondolas to give them the full holiday experience.

Since their first motorhome trip they calculated they have travelled more than 10,000 miles with the pooches in tow.

They said people expect travelling with dogs to be more difficult, or restrictive, but if you do it right that's not the case.

Sophia said: "When we told our family we were getting a second dog, they assumed we would never be going on holiday again."

"They joked we'd be housebound and said we'd 'have our hands full'."

"But travelling with them not as hard as people think."

"Because we have the motorhome we can just move, no need to pack and unpack, and we can change our plans whenever we want."

"When I grew up we went on holiday without our dogs and they went into a kennel, but now I'm older I prefer having them with me."

They reckon it's cheaper than leaving the dogs in a kennel, flying and staying in a hotel too.

Using their 2023 trip as an example, the couple calculated the costs of the motorhome hire, fuel, campsites, tolls and vet fees - £3,595.

Then they calculated what the same trip would have cost them to fly, hire a car, pay for accommodation and put the dogs in a kennel.

The total came to £3,770 - MORE than with the dogs.

The couple plan to take their dogs away with them every year - and are already planning their next trip to Norway.

Rhys added: "We just want people to know that motorhomes are a good thing to try."

Sophia added: "There are so many adventures you can have with your dogs."